Driving mechanism for motion picture projectors



1936. E. s. CARPENTER 2,049,944

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR MOTION PICTURE PROJECTORS Filed Au 5, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG I m,

3% 79uwwwna Aug. 4, 1936. E. s. CARPENTER DRIVING MECHANISM FOR MOTION PICTURE PROJECTOBS Filed Aug. 5, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A118. 1936- E. s. CARPENTER 2,049,944

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR MOTION PICTURE PROJECTORS Filed Aug. 5, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ESE #0 /22 2 i /4/ v i i l 9- /70 5 I M5 1 v z y, /.e/ m I m/ E 8 I x25 I l A55 F I *s'wmiaiafmz 19%, @M' WW,

airman 1936; E. s. CARPENTER 2,049,944

' DRIVING MECHANISM FOR MOTION PICTURE PROJECTORS Filed Aug.- 5, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 M RR WARD REVERSE PIG. A? FIG. /5

Rswmn STILL FIG. /4 v Pier. A5

Patented Aug. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRIVING MECHANISM FOR MOTION PICTURE PROJECTORS Application August 5, 1933, Serial No. 683,737

22 Claims.

This invention is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 511,250, filed January 26th, 1931, and relates to a motion picture projector having a motor and suitable gearing driven thereby for operating either reel to feed the film forward or backward, as well as to operate the intermittent feed, the shutter and a fan for cooling the lamp.

The object of my invention is to provide a selective unitary control device associated with effective operating mechanism so that, by different positions of such control, I may connect the motor and its driven mechanism for ordinary exhibiting, or for reversing, and by a simple movement energize the lamp and start the motor. The invention also provides a position for directly rewinding onto the original reel, and a position for projecting .a still picture.

A further object is to provide driving connections which will, through a suitable unitary controller, enable the different driving connections to be made in any order desired, and without damage to the operating mechanism or to the film.

In accomplishing the abovaobjects, I provide a unitary control, such as is described and claimed in my copending application heretofore referred to, and which comprises a rotary controller barrel having contacts on its periphery which coact with contacts in a suitable housing for the barrel, all arranged so that by turning the knob to a given position, all the contacts, except the main switch, are set for the operation to be performed. I arrange the main switch so that it is operated by longitudinal movement of the controller knob.

I further provide a novel arrangement of gearing, clutches and operating mechanism therefor which is responsive to the electrical circuits controlled by the switch member. Accordingly, by

rotating the knob to a desired position and then 40 moving it axially, the projecting machine may be caused to perform any selected one of its four operations of forward drive, reverse drive, rewind and still exhibit.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a side elevation 01' a motion picture apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the controller unit, as indicated by the line 2-2 on- Fig. 1, being on a larger scale; Fig. 3 is a similar view of the controller unit, with some of the parts' illustrating the various motor-driven mechanisms; Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are sections, as indicated by the correspondingly numbered lines on Fig. 6; Fig. 10 is a detail section as indicated by the lines Ill-ll] on Fig. 1; Fig. 11 is a detail section and is 5 indicated by the lines l|ll on Fig. 10.- Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15'are electrical diagrams showing the connection utilized for controlling the projection machine, with the heavy lines of each figure showing the current path during the forward, re- 10 .verse, rewind and still positions of the machine,

respectively. e

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the frame of my projector comprises an upright hollow standard l0 mounted on a. suitably extending base II and 15 carrying at its rear a support l2 for the lamp and lens and carrying on its forward side two diagonally projecting hollow brackets l3, M, on which the reel-holding arms l5, iii are mounted, preferably by hinge connections.

The motor, the operating mechanism for driving either reel and rotating the shutter and for giving the intermittent feed to the film, and a motor-driven fan for cooling the lamp, are all contained within the hollow standard In. At the side of the standard III and above the base II is an offset portion I8 of the hollow frame which carries the unitary control hereinafter described.

The mechanism for rotating one reel or the other and for driving the intermittent feed and shutter are illustrated in Figs. 6 to 11, inclusive. In those views M indicates an electric motor, R indicates a resistance in series with one of the field terminals of the motor, 1' a line running directly to such field terminal by-passing the resistance. The motor is indicated as having a shaft m carrying the fan which serves to cool the lamp indicated at L. The motor, by suitable gearing to be described, drives each reel through ratchets, so that backward rotation of either reel drive is idle. The motor also may actuate the intermittent feed I, i and the shutter H. S indicates a solenoid which is adapted to operate a clutch to throw out of action the intermittent feed an shutter and the forward drive.

With the parts as just described, and irrespectiveof'the form of the other mechanisms, an energization of the motor in series with the resistance, and with the solenoid idle, will drive the intermittent feed and shutter and one reel or the other, according to the direction of rotation of the motor, to feed the film in either direction and give the intermediate portion the necessary intermittent feed for exhibition purposes.

The coupling of the motor in the reverse direc- 55 tion, but with the resistance out and the solenoid active, will efiect the rapid rotation of the original reel without operating the intermittent feed or shutter to give an effective rewinding operation. Finally, a connection through the resistance to the motor for forward operation and through the solenoid to throw out the clutch, will disconnect the intermittent feed, the shutter, and the forward drive, leaving the motor to operate the fan to cool the lamp, so the parts are proper for a still projection of whatever view happens to register with the lens and lamp.

In order to enable the above operation to be better understood, I will describe the particular driving mechanism shown in Figs; 6 to 9 inclusive, and particularly the drive for the upper reel N of film which is driven to reverse the film or to rewind the film on the original reel N. As there indicated, I have rigidly mounted on the motor shaft m, adjacent its upper end, a spiral gear lZIfll which meshes with a spiral l2l pinned to a transversely extending horizontal shaft .l22 mounted in suitable bearings lit carried by the frame lli. Rigidly secured to this shaft l22 is a spiral gear i2 3, which meshes with a spiral l 25 on a reel driving shaft Hill. This shaft is connected by a clutch l2'l with an extension lit which carries a bevel gear. H29 meshing with a bevel gear lilll carried by a rotary stud l6 which carries the original reel N of film.

The lower reel W of film is driven by the motor M through the shaft 121. to wind the film during normal or forward operation of the machine. As shown in Figs. 6 to 9 a spiral gear its is loosely secured to the motor shaft in and arranged to be selectively driven thereby through the medium of a jaw clutch, one member i3 3 of which is rigidly secured to the shaft m and the other member we of which is keyed for sliding movement on an extended hub l36 of the spiral use and normally urged into engagement with the clutch member Hi l by a suitable compression spring Bill. The spiral l33 meshes with a spiral gear Md, rigidly secured to a longitudinally extending horizontal shaft Ml, to which is also rigidly secured the shutter H and a spiral M3. The spiral meshes with a smaller spiral l id carried by a transverse shaft M5 to which is secured a second spiral M6 which meshes with a spiral Ml on a reel driving shaft I48. This shaft is connected by a clutch M9 with an extension lw, which carries a bevel gear l5l meshing with a. bevel gear l52 carried by the rotary stud I6 which carries the reel W.

The two clutches l Ti and M9, above referred to, each comprise separate members mounted on the respective driving and driven shafts and having coacting shoulders adapted to effectively engage when such driving member is rotated in the driving direction. Each of the driving shafts I26 and. I48 is capable of a slight axial movement, and as such driving member is driven in each case by a spiral gear, there is a longitudinal thrust on this driving shaft according to its direction of rotation. When the rotation is in the driving direction the pressure of the spiral gear teeth forces the shaft and its clutch member axially into engagement with .its mate. Whenever the direction of the spiral is reversed to operate the shaft in the idle direction, no slipping of the clutch takes place, because the thrust of the driving spiral acts in the opposite direction to withdraw the shaft to axially separate the clutch members, as shown in the case of the clutch I21, in Fig. 6. This peculiar separable driving mechanism is claimed per se in my copending appliarranged to engage the film perforations.

aoaaesa cation which now is Patent 1,920,967 issued on August 8th, 1933.

The intermittent drive shown in Fig. 6 is along the lines of the drive shown in my Patent No.

1,920,969, issued August 8th, 1933, and reference is made to that patent for a fuller description. Briefly, as here shown in Fig. 6, there is a grooved cam wheel I rigid on the shaft MI. This wheel has a peripheral groove which for most part lies in a radial plane, but at its ends turns outwardly diagonally in opposite directions. This groove cooperates with pins on a wheel i, carried by a transverse shaft i553, so as to turn that wheel one tooth for each rotation of the shaft P. The transverse shaft l53 projects outwardly through the casing ll] and carries on its outer end a film engaging sprocket l54 provided with teeth I55 The shaft l53 is disposed so that the film engaging sprocket is substantially beneath and tangent to the film guide ltli which guides the film in the path of the projector light. Hence, an intermittent movement is imparted to the film adjacent the projection point.

The intermittent movement is not relied upon to draw the film from either reel N or W. Instead, a loop of film is always maintained between the two reels to prevent distortion of the projected pictures, due to the reaction of the driving pressure on the film. As shown, the film is drawn from the upper reel by a driving sprocket ltd rigidly mounted on the outer end of a transverse shaft llil, which is journalled in suitable bearings carried by the frame iii. The shaft I6I, together with the sprocket lfill, are continuously driven at a rate of speed sufiicient to maintain the film in a free loop between the driving sprocket ltd and the guide lSlL. As shown in Figs. 6, 8, and 9, a spiral l62 is secured on the shaft llil and meshes with a larger spiral gear M53, which is rigidly secured to the shutter shaft Ml. The shaft Ml is driven from the motor M through the medium of the clutch l 34, I35, heretofore described.

A loop of film is likewise maintained between the lower reel W and the intermittent motion sprocket I541. As shown, there is a continuously moving sprocket i6 3 disposed in the path of the film between the sprocket lfi i and the reel W. The sprocket i166 is rigidly secured to one end of the shaft M5 heretofore described, and whichis driven from the motor M through the medium of the clutch I34, I35 and the spiral gears I43 and I441."

The clutch I34 and I35 is operated by the solenoid S. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the clutch member I35 is provided with an annular recess, which is engaged by a pivoted yoke I66, which is rocked by the solenoid through a loosely pivoted arm IS]. The spring I31, together with an auxiliary spring IBIa. retain the yoke and arm todownward out of connection with the clutch member I34 and the driving connection between the shafts m and I is broken. When, however, the solenoid is active, the pivoted yoke I66 withdraws the clutch and thereby renders inactive the shutter, the

intermittent feed and the advance reel W.

When the solenoid is idle, if the motor is operated in the direction to turn the driving reel W in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 6, the clutch I38. I35 operates to complete the driving connection between the shafts m and Ill, and the clutch I21 rotates idly, with the result that the film is progressed from the reel N to the reel W, intermittently operated by the wheel i and intermittently exposed by the shutter H, this being known as the forward drive of the machine. When the motor operates the drive of the reel N in the winding direction, the clutch I40 for the other reel is idle, this gives the. reverse.

In rewinding, the direction of movement is the same as reverse, but the motor is speeded up by cutting out the resistance, which cuts in the solenoid, and as the fllm then passes directly from the reel W to the 1'81 N, the intermittent movement and shutter, which are driven from the shaft I are idle, due to the action of the solenoid in breaking the driving connection between the shafts m and Ill. For the still operation, the energization of the solenoid disconnects the intermittent feed and the shutter and the forward drive to the reel W, while the direction of the rotation of the motor is such that the clutchJ is moved in the idle direction and hence the reel N is not moved. The motor therefore accomplishes only the cooling of the lamp. The intermittent movement may be then manually operated by turning a knob I10 on the forward end of the shaft I4I to bring any particular view desired into registration with the lamp.

The studs I5 and I6 which carry and rotate the reels W and N respectively are both normally driven through a frictional engagement with their respective driving gears I52 and I 30. This driving arrangement prevents damage to the film due to the fact that the peripheral speed of the roll of film fluctuates as the film is wound and unwound. I find, however, that during the rewinding operation it is highly desirable to eliminate the frictional drive and establish a direct driving connection between the stud I8 and the driving mechanism, so that rewinding may be accomplished in as short a time as possible. This direct drive is especially desirable because the speed of the mechanism is stepped up during the rewinding operation, due to the elimination of the resistance R as heretofore mentioned. In rewinding only the upper reel N is driven. Hence, there is no provision for connecting the lower reel stud I5 directly to its driving mechanism. However, the frictional drive for this stud is the same as for the stud IS.

The driving mechanism for the upper reel is arranged for direct drive during rewinding and is provided with an automatic release which antomatically disconnects the direct drive when the mechanism is operated in a'forward direction (to wind film on the lower reel W) following the reverse action. This driving connection is bestshown in Figs. 10 and 11. The driving stud I6 is supported in a bushing IIll carried by the supporting arm I3 and has loosely mounted thereon the driving gear I30, heretofore mentioned. The gear I30 is disposed between two washers I13 and I14, the first of which is rigidly mounted upon the shaft and the second of which is loosely mounted on the shaft. A spring I15 is then utilized for-clamping the gear to the washer, and the tension on the spring is arranged to be adjusted by a set-screw IIS. This provides a frictional driving connection between the gear and the reel carrying stud IS. The stud I5 is similarly driven from its respective driving gear I52.

A suitable clutch, shown in Figs. 10 and 11 provides for a. direct driving connection between the gear I30 and the reel stud I6. As shown, a sleeve I80 surrounds the inner end of the stud I8 and is acted upon by the spring I15 to make the frictional connection between the stud and the gear. the sleeve being slidably mounted on the stud but prevented from rotation thereon by reason of a flattened end I8I of the shaft engaging a similarly shaped opening in the sleeve. The sleeve I 80 carries a pin I82 which engages a slot in a clutch member I83, which slidably embraces the sleeveand is provided with teeth I 84 to engage similar teeth I85 formed on the inner face of the gear I30. The clutch member I83 is rotatably mounted in the shank of a hollow plunger I86, relative sliding movement between these two membersbeing prevented by reason of the engagement of a pin I81 carried by the sleeve withan annular groove formed in the clutch member I83. The plunger I 86 is in turn slidably mounted in a cap I88, which is secured to the reel arm I3, relative rotation between the cap and the plunger being prevented by a lug I89 on the plunger, which engages a recess in the cap. The outer end of the plunger is provided with a suitable knob, by means of which the plunger may be manually moved to engage the clutch member I83 with the gear I30.

The operation of the clutch is as follows: The operator presses the plunger inwardly toward the stud I6 against the action of a suitable compression spring I90, carrying the clutch member I83 into engagement with the gear I30, thereby providing a direct driving connection between the gear, the clutch member I83, the sleeve I80 and the shaft I8. As the plunger is depressed an ear I84 on the plunger passes an arm I8I, carried on a rock shaft I92, and which is normally retained in the position shown in Fig. 11' by a suitable spring I83. As the ear I84 engages the arm it rocks itagainst the action of the spring I93, and when the ear is past the plunger the spring returns the arm, thereby locking the plunger in its inward or depressed position. As long as the direction of rotation of the parts is in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 11, which direction is the rewinding direction, the plunger will remain depressed.

on the reel W, following the rewinding of the film on the reel N, the plunger I86 is automatically released. The spring I93 which maintains the arm I3I in its normal or locking position, is engaged by the upper end of an arm I95 which is securedv to the rock shaft I92. The action of the spring is such as will permit the rocking of the shaft in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. The lower end of the arm I85 projects into a peripheral recess in the hub of the gear I30, and the parts are so arranged that when the gear rotates in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 11, the rocking of the shaft I 82, due to'the arm I95 riding'on the periphery of the hub of the gear I30, has no effect on the lock between the plunger I86 and the arm I 9|. the film is wound on the reel W it is drawn from the reel N, causing the latter to rotate in a direction opposite to the arrow in. Fig. 11. The driving connection established through the clutch I83 causes the gear I30 to rotate in the same direction as the stud I6. When this occurs, the arm I85 enters the slot and upon further rota- However, when.

aoeaeae tion rides out of the slot onto the periphery of the hub of the gear, swinging the rock shaft into a position 'to cause the arm lit to release the plunger, which returns to its withdrawn position under the influence of the spring 11%. Hence, the direct driving connection is broken, and when the film is next reversed during the operation of the machine, the film will not be damaged as the frictional driving connection will permit lost motion between the reel and its driving mechanism.

I will now describe the particular embodiment of my control shown in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive,

, which efiects the above described circuit connections, and which is illustrated, described and claimed in my copending application, heretofore mentioned.

Mounted in the offset portion it of the hollow frame is a stationary cup-like housing 2b of insulating material, having a cylindrical wall 20 on a horizontal axis, and a vertical base 22 which has, concentric of the axis, a small inwardly projecting cup portion 23 having a vertical wall 26 at the front. The insulating housing 269 may have a front edge flange 25 overhanging the frame casing I8, to which it may be locked by screws 26.

At the rearof the internal cup portion 23 and bridging across it, is an insulating block 21! secured by screws 28 to the wall 22 and carrying a pair of contacts 3i and 32, which extend forwardly through the block on opposite sides of an opening 29 in the block. These contacts 3" and 32 are L-shaped pieces, as shown, and are secured to the insulating block by screws which clamp to the contact conductors 35 and 36 which are parts of the main current line to the lamp and motor. The inner ends of these L-shaped contacts 3| and'32 are exposed within the cup and are adapted to be bridged by a floating metallic member which coacts with them to form the snap switch as previously described.

Rotatively mounted in the annular space within the insulating housing 20 is an insulating barrel 40 integrally carrying an operating knob M. This barrel has, on its periphery, suitable contacts cooperating with contacts carried by the housing, as hereinafter described. The barrel also carries, rigidly mounted in the knob M, a rod 50 which has on it a bulging sleeve 5!! coming to a central ridge. Surrounding this sleeve is a hollow metallic cage 52 and within this cage is an annular coiled spring 53.

It results from the described construction that if the knob 4| is pulled outwardly, the ridge of the sleeve 5! is moving outwardly, passes through the annular spring 53, and as soon as the ridge has passed that sleeve, the contraction of the.

spring onthe incl'me of the sleeve causes the cage to snap toward the free end of the rod 50, thus making a contact with the terminals 3i and 32, as shown in Fig. 3. On the other hand, when the outwardly drawn knob is pushed inwardly, the rear conical portion of the sleeve 50 passes through the spring of the cage, expanding the spring, and, as the ridge passes beyond the spring, the contractingspring causes the bridging cage to snap out of contact with the terminals 3i and 32 and come into 'the position at the head of the cup 23 as shown in Fig. 2.

The rotation of the knob M establishes the various electric circuits as desired, and then the outward pulling of the knob closes the switch to make these circuits eflective, and when the knob has been so pulled, it is locked against rotation, so that the circuit cannot be disturbed until the knob has been pushed inwardly and broken the circuit. To enable this control of the knob, I form in the periphery of the barrel M], an annular groove M which is occupied by the inner end of a pin 85 mounted in the wall 2i of the insulating housing 20. The barrel, when in idle position, as shown in Fig. 2, may be rotated freely, the groove tit traveling across the pin. At each of the active positions of the knob, however, I form a longitudinal offset Q6 of the groove M, 'as indicated in Figs. 2 and 5. When one of these ofisets is in registration with the pin,,the knob may be pulled outwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3, and when so pulled, the pin occupying the corresponding offset, prevents the rotation of the knob.

For convenience of illustration, I have shown the pin 65 in the plane of the sections of Figs. 2 and 3. However, in practice it is inconvenient to locate the pin in this particular location as the contacts in the periphery of the barrel interfere with the ofisets At. The preferred location of the pin is as-illustrated at 5 in Fig. 4. It could have any location about the periphery of the barrel if the barrel were long enough so that the ofisets 46 could not interfere with the contacts on the periphery of the barrel, but to condense the construction I prefer to make the barrel quite short and arrange the offsets to lie between the peripheral contacts.

The contacts on the barrel above referred to are simply plates mounted in the periphery adapted to bridge two stationary contacts carried by the housing. In Figs. 2 and 3 I illustrate at 68 one of the housing contacts which is connected at its rear to a conductor .16, and these views illustrate at 8!] one of the bridging contacts mounted in the barrel, these bridging contacts being short metal plates having arcuate exteriors and mounted in notches in the periphery of the barrel. The plates may be backed up by springs 88 pressing them outwardly.

In. the particular embodiment shown, there are seven of these peripheral plates mounted on the barrel and designated in Fig. 4 as W to 86, inclusive. In the housing 20 there are in this embodiment eleven contacts similar to designated from (it to it, inclusive. I have given the contacts each a different designating number in Fig. 4 for the purpose of identification with the diagrams of Figs. 12 to 15. These contacts have been arranged after much experimenting,

to give the various connections desired for the four active positions of the knob and without causing any disturbances of these connections by the non-active contacts.

The active positions of the barrel are preferably on somewhat less than half of its face, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The barrel when idle may stand in any position, but it is shown in Fig. 1 in the position of being ready for forward running; then a simple outward pull of the knob illuminates the lamp and energizes the motor, driving the lower roll and intermittent feed and the shutter, thus projecting the picture. When the knob is pushed inwardly, the current is cut ofi to all parts, then it may be rotated to any the current comes from a suitable source of sup- 7:;

ply indicated at I00, thence through the resistance R and the line IN to the field F of the motor, through that field to the line I02, back through the closed switch I03 (that is the switch 3|, 32 and 52 of Fig. 2) to the minus line I04 to the source of supply, indicated conventionally by the battery though it will usually be an ordinary 110 volt lighting circuit. The switch I03, however, will be open until the knob has been pulled longitudinally.

The line IOI at a point where it joins the field F also continues as I05 to the fixed contact I0. This contact in this position is connected by the bridging contact 86 on the rotary barrel to the contact 69 which is connected by the line I06 with the armature M of the motor. On the other side of this armature the line I01 leads to the contact 63 in the housing. This is connected by the bridge 83 to the contact 64, from which a line I08 leads to the line I02. on the negative side of the field. The armature is thus in a shunt across the field. The line I09 branches from the line I02 and passes through the lamp L to the contact 65 which is engaged by the bridge 84 and connected with the contact 66, from which a. line I I0 leads back to the plus side of the source of supply. The lamp and motor are thus in parallel with each other on two branches of a divided circuit. When the parts are in this position, the solenoid S is idle, the

lamp and motor are energized, and the direction .line I0'I from the other side of the armature which terminates at the contact 63 is now connected by the bridge 84 with the formerly idle contact 62, from which a line I I2 leads to the main line IOI on the plus side of the source of supply.

The connections for rewinding (Fig. 14) leave the motor, field and armature coupled as in re-- verse, but the resistance and the lamp are out of circuit. On the other hand, the solenoid S is in circuit, the line H3, H4 from the main line I03 through the solenoid and terminating at the contact BI being connected by the bridge 82 to the formerly idle contact 60, from which a line II5 leads to the line IIO going back to the plus side of the source of power. The solenoid is thus bridged across the main lines and is active to disconnect the drive to the lower reel W and disconnect the intermittent feed and shutter.

In Fig. 15 (for still exhibition) the connections are similar to Fig. 14, except that the lamp and resistance are now again energized and while the motor is reversed; the solenoid being energized. the drive to the lower reel W is cut out and the motor drive to the reel N is noneffective (turning in the backward direction) so that in this case the motor is used simply to operate the fan for cooling the lamp. The line I05 from the plus side of the field becomes active is connected by the bridge 86 with the contact 64 from which the line I08 leads to the minus side of the field, the motor being thus connected as in Fig. 1.

It will be seen from the tracing of the diagrams, that a bridging contact on the periphery of the rotary barrel is adapted to serve in several locations for bridging different contacts of the stationary housing, and at the same time these erations of ordinary exhibiting, reverse exhibit-.

ing. still exhibi ing, and re-winding, each by a single setting of the control device. The whole mechanism is very compact and experience has demonstrated that it is steady and comparatively noiseless in operation.

The motor-operated mechanism is so arranged that it becomes automatically disconnected from the supply reel whenever the movement is in a direction to drive the take-up reel. I attain simplicity and compactness of parts by arranging the intermediate driving member for the take-up reel, the driving member for the intermittent feed, and shutter all on one shaft, which is normally driven by the motor. On the other hand, -I drive the supply reel in a very simple and direct manner by means of a mechanism which comes into action automatically upon the reverse movement of the motor, and a clutch which entirely disconnects the intermediate shaft and the parts it carries, so that no extra work is thrown on the motor during the re-winding operation, and this permits the motor to assume its maximum speed during the re-winding. Furthermore, for this rewinding I provide a manual clutch to make a positive connection between the re-winding reel stud and the driving mechanism to avoid any loss from slippage during this high-speed action.

Finally, to prevent the positive connection at the re-wind stud from resulting in anysubsequent damage to the film, if the operator were required to disengage it and neglected to do so,

I provide automatic mechanism which establishes the disconnection immediately upon the reversal of movement of the reel, irrespective ofany mechanical driving connection to that reel.

I claim:

1. In a motion picture projector, a pair of film reels, driving mechanism therefor, including a reversible electric motor, a frictional driving connection disposed between one of said reels and the motor, means to cause said connection to be replaced by a direct driving connection, and means acting automatically consequent upon the reversing of the direction of rotation of said motor for causing said first-named means to disengage the direct driving connection between the motor and the reel.

2. In a motion picture projector having a pair of film carrying reels, mechanism to alternately drive said reels to wind film on the driven reel from the other reel, including an electric motor and clutch mechanism connecting said. motor to selectively drive either of said reels, as desired, a frictional driving connection disposed between 2;: accepts one of said reels and the motor, a positive drive connection connecting said last-named reel with said motor, and means responsive to film pull irrespective of any other driving connection to said last-named reel to release said positive driving connection.

3. In a motion picture projector having a film carrying reel, a motor, a driving connection between said motor and said reel, a frictional power transmitting unit connecting said motor with said reel, a clutch mechanism to selectively cause said reel to be positively connected with said motor, a manually operable plunger ior controlling said clutch, and a catch coacting with said clutch to retain the clutch in an operating position.

4. In a motion picture mechanism having a film carrying reel rotatably mounted thereon, operating mechanism to rotate said reel, said operating mechanism including a frictional driving connection, resilient means to maintain said frictional driving connection, a clutch for positively connecting said reel with said operating mechanism, said clutch including a member fixed to rotate positively under the influence of the operating mechanism and a member fixed to rotate positively with said reel, one of said members being movable to engage the othermember and cause both of said members to rotate positively as a unit, means to normally keep said members-disengaged, a manually operable plunger for engaging said members, a catch responsive to the direction of rotation of one of'said members for maintaining said members in driving engagement with each other when the member is rotating in one direction and for releasing said members from engagement with each other when the member is rotating in the opposite direction.

'5. A motion picture projector comprising studs for carrying a pair of film reels and mechanism for driving the same, an intermittent movement mechanism to progress said him from one reel to the other, and a shutter, a reversible motor for operating the reels, intermittent movement and shutter, together with a solenoid-controlled clutch for disconnecting the intermittent movement and shutter, a unitary control device which may be set in alternative positions and having contacts which in one position energize the motor in the direction to drive one reel, and in another position act to reverse the direction of the motor and thereby drive the other reel, said contacts in another position actuating the solenoid to enable exhibition of a still picture.

6. In a motion picture projector, having two film reels adapted to carry film, a pair of ratchet devices for driving the two reels, an intermittent feed mechanism, including a clutch to carry said film from one reel to the other, a lamp, a fan therefor, and a motor for operating the fan, the intermittent feed and the two ratchet reel drives; a resistance for controlling the motor speed; and a solenoid for unclutching the intermittent feed, combined with, and controlled by, a unitary control device having the following positions, namely: one position for operating the motor through the resistance to drive the fan, the intermittent feed and one reel; a second position for operating through the resistance the motor in the reverse direction to drive the fan, the intermittent feed reversely, and the other reel; a third position for operating the motor without the resistance and with the intermittent feed unclutched whereby the motor may operate rapidly to rewind the film; a fourth position to energize the motor to operate the fan to cool the lamp without operating the intermittent feed or either reel, whereby a still picture may be exhibited.

7. In a motion picture projector having two reels adapted to carry film, a pair of ratchet devices for driving the two reels, a shutter, an intermittent feed mechanism, to feed said film 10 from one reel to the other, a lamp, a fan therefor, a motor for operating the fan, the intermittent feed and the two ratchet reel drives, a solenoid for disconnecting the intermittent feed, the shutter and one of said ratchet drives from 15 said motor combined with, and controlled by, a unitary control device having the following positions, namely: one position for operating the motor to drive the fan, the intermittent feed and one reel; a second position for operating the motor in the reverse direction to drive the fa the intermittent teed reversely and the ,other reel; a third position for operating the -motor with the intermittent feed unclutched,

whereby the motor may operate rapidly to re- 25 wind the film; a fourth position to energize the motor to operate the fan to cool the lamp without operating the intermittent feed or either reel, whereby a still picture may be exhibited.

8.1n a motion picture projector, a pair of 30 film reels, an intermittent film feed mechanism,

a shutter, a lamp, a f therefor, a continuous film feed, a reversible motor for driving said fan, said pair of reels, the intermittent feed, the shutter, and the continuous film feed, a clutch 35 for disconnecting the continuous feed, the intermittent feed, the shutter and one of said reels from said motor to render them inoperative with respect thereto, and a second clutch responsive to the direction of rotation of said 4 motor to disconnect the other one of said pair of reels from rotation induced by said motor.

9. In a motion picture projector, a pair of film reels, an intermittent film feed mechanism,

a shutter, a lamp, a ran therefor, a continuous film feed, a reversible motor for driving said fan, said pair of reels, the intermittent feed, the shutter, the film feed, and the continuous film feed, a clutch for disconnecting the continuous feed, the intermittent feed, the shutter and one of said reels from movement resulting from said motor, and a second clutch responsive to the direction of rotation of said motor to disconnect the other one of said pair of reels from rotation induced by said motor, and a unitary control device to control the supply of power to said motor, the direction of rotation of said motor and said first-named clutch.

10. In a motion picture projector, using film and having pair of reels, an intermittent film ct feed mechanism, a shutter, a lamp, a fan therefor, a continuous film feed, a. reversible motor having a vertically disposed armature shaft, 2. connection between said shaft and one of said reels, including a clutch responsive to the direc- 6: tion of rotation of said. motor to connect or disconnect the shai't with said reel, 9, horizontally disposed shaft drivingly connected to said armature shaft through the medium of a solenoid controlled clutch, said horizontal shaft arranged 7 to drive the shutter, the intermittent feed and the continuous feed, said horizontal shaft also connected to drive the other of said reels, said last-named connection including a clutch responsive to the direction of rotation of the motor 75 to disconnect or connect the horizontal shaft with said last-named reel.

11. In a motion picture projector having a pair of film reels, an intermittent feed mechanism for saidfilm, a shutter, a lamp, and a fan therefor, "a continuous film feed, a reversible motor having a vertically disposed armature shaft, a connection between said shaft and one of said reels, including a clutch responsive to the direction of rotation of said motor to connect or disconnect the shaft with said reel, 2. horizontally disposed shaft dn'vingly connected to said armature shaft through the medium of a solenoid controlled clutch, said horizontal shaft being arranged to drive the shutter, the intermittent feed and the continuous feed, said horizontal shaft also being permissive of connection to drive the other of said reels, said last-named connection including a clutch responsive to the direction of rotation of the motor to disconnect or connect the horizontal shaft with said last named reel, and a unitary control device manually operable at the will of the operator to energize said motor with or without energizing the solenoid and to control the direction of rotation of said motor. I

12. In combination, a motion picture projector employing a strip of film, mechanism for driving the film in either one of two directions, a motor to operate said mechanism, a plurality of electrical circuits to control said motor, and a settable control device having one movement for selectively controlling the direction of feed of said film by selecting the appropriate electrical circuit to operate said motor in a desired manner, together with a second settable movement adapted to connect and retain connection or disconnect and retain disconnection of the chosen one of said circuits with a source of current supply 13. A motion picture projector having means for carrying a pair of reels, a roll of film adapted to be fed from one reel to the other, a driving motor and suitable mechanism for causing the machine to feed the film from either reel to the other or to cease feeding the film to exhibit a still picture, a mechanical clutch disposed between said motor and said mechanism, a plurality of electrical operating circuits to control the direction of rotation of said motor, and a manually operable settable control device for selectively engaging one of said electrical circuits to cause a given operation, as desired by the operator, said control device being slidable to control a single circuit supplying current to the chosen one of said operating circuits, means to retain said slidable device in either an active or inactive position, as desired. and a solenoid to actuate said clutch and controlled by said device.

14. A motion picture projector comprising a stud for carrying a pair of film reels, mechanism for driving the same, an intermittent movement mechanism to progress said film from one reel to the other, a shutter, a reversible motor for operating the reel, intermittent movement and shutter, a solenoid together with a clutch controlled by said solenoid for disconnecting the intermittentmovement and shutter as desired, a unitary manual control for said mechanism to contrdr'said solenoid, and means whereby films may be rapidly rewound from one reel to the other while said intermittent movement and shutter are retained inactive.

15. In a motion picture projector, a film reel,

' means to drive said film reel, a frictional conand means toeffect a positive driving connection, together with means to disengage said positive driving connection when the direction of rotation of said reel is reversed.

16. In a motion picture projector, a pair of film reels, reversible driving mechanism therefor,

including a reversible motor, a frictional driving connection disposed between one of said reels and the driving mechanism therefor, means to cause said connection to be replaced by a direct driving connection, and means acting consequent upon the reversing of the direction of rotation of said motor for causing said direct driving connection between the driving mechanism and the reel to be disengaged when the direction of rotation of said reel is reversed.

17. In a motion picture projector, a film-carrying reel, driving mechanism therefor, a driving connection between said mechanism and said reel, a frictional power-transmitting unit connecting said mechanism with said reel, a clutch mechanism to selectively cause said reel to be positively connected with said driving mechanism, manually operable means for controlling said clutch and means to disengage said clutch when the direc- 25 tion of rotation of said reel is reversed.

18. In a motion picture projector employing a strip of film carried by a pair of reels, electrically operated mechanism for driving the film from either reel to the other, as desired, an intero mittent feed to move said film in one direction, and a single manual settable control device for the mechanism, said control having a dual operation, oneof said operations being adapted to selectively effect the movement of said filmin either direction, as desired by the operator, and means embodied in said control to permit a second settable operation; perpendicular to said first operation for supplying power to cause the chosen -film movement to be effective and a mechanical clutch, electrically governed by said control, to maintain or discontinue said intermittent feed depending on the setting of said control.

19. The combination of a motion picture projector adapted to be operated in various ways, mechanism embodied in such projector to permit such various operations, including anintermittent feed for said film, a single control switch rotatable into different positions to select a given manner of operation, saidcontrol having means; to permit a second movement perpendicular to said first movement and settable in a chosen position to initiate the selected operation and render said rotative selection operatively effective, a

alternate ways, one Way embodying an intermittent feed for a film of a unitary control device to permit said projector to operate in the chosen one of said alternate ways, said control device having means to permit movement in one direction to select an operation tobe performed, and" means to permit movement in a direction normal to said first movement to initiate the selected operation chosen by said first movement, both of said means being settable to be retained/in a chosen position, said control including means whereby such selection is rendered effective in operating said projector and a mechanical clutch, electrically controlled by said switchfor controlling said intermittent feed.

21. The combination of a motion picture nro= jector, conduits within said projector creating a plurality of electrical circuits, a unitary control for said circuits, contacts on said control to engage a control arm which is rotatable to select the operation to be performed, a member in said control having a longitudinal movement to initiate the selected operation, and means to retain said control at either extreme of said longitudinal movement as desired, and a mechanical clutch which is electrically controlled by said switch to govern the operations to be performed.

22. The combination with a motion picture projector, of mechanism for operating said projector to pass film therethrough in either of two opposite directions, including means to drive the advance reel when projecting or to retain said film in a stationary position, electrically operated means for causing said difierent operating movements, including a mechanical clutch for con necting said advance reel tov a driving source, conduit wires forming a plurality of electric cir= cults to control said electrically operated means, a unitary control for said circuits comprising a rotary barrel, peripheral contacts on said barrel adapted to coact with an adjacent set of fixed contacts on said control to establish the electrical circuit desired, said barrel being movable longitudinally and settable in either an active or inactive posltion to close a main circuit energizing the chosen oi the alternative circuits.

ERNEST S. CARPENTER. 

